SlatC-Colorcd JunCO (Jkhco kycmalis) 



Lciij^lh .ihoiit ()J4 inches. 



rrevailinjj color prayish slate, l)rlly white; outer tail feathers tipperl with 

 white. 



Rau^'e : ilreeds in nnich (jf Ala>l<a and Lanada and in the ni<nnUain.s ui .\c\v 

 N'»»rl<, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts, wiiile a nearly related f(irni (the Carolina 

 Junco) breeds in the southern .MIeghenies ; winters throughout the eastern states 

 to the Gulf. 



( )nly one junco inhabits the eastern I'nited Statc>. but >c\irai -jk^.^- ,.,. 

 in the west. .Ml of the members of the group resemble each other in a general 

 way and all have similar habits. Most of us know the junco only in the fall and 

 when, after having summered in the mountains of the more northern districts, 

 the birds gather in large Hocks and forsake high altitudes for more congenial 

 surroundings. The junco associates with other sparrows, usually far outnum- 

 bering them, but its slate-colored plumage and white tail feathers reveal its pres- 

 ence unmistakably. Its familiar "tsip" may be easily recognized among the 

 medley of notes, but its low sweet song is to be heard at its best only in its Alpine 

 home. Nevertheless, as the late migrants shape their course for the northern 

 woods, it is not uncommon to hear the males of a flock burst into song, as if they 

 really could not be content to remain silent any longer. When snow is on the 

 ground the juncos are often hard pushed for food and on such occasions a flock 

 will readily respond to an invitation to visit the dooryard and dine on t:d)lc 

 crumbs or small seeds of any kind. 



The junco is one of our most persistent grass and weed seed eaters and in 

 winter and spring seeds constitute much the greater part of its fare. Taking the 

 year around, about, one-fourth of its food consists of insects, including leaf beetles, 

 weevils, caterpillars, grasshoppers and many others. 



897 



